Comparative Study of Quality of Life and Psychological Aspects in Patients with Psoriasis and Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa are two common dermatological diseases that affect physical, social, and psychological aspects of the patients’ lives. The aim of this study was to compare quality of life, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and loneliness in patients with psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa. One hundred and eight patients with psoriasis, 113 patients with hidradenitis suppurativa and 116 healthy controls were included in the study. The quality of life, depression, anxiety, and loneliness of the patients as well as their self-esteem were assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the UCLA loneliness Scale (UCLA-Version 3) and the Rosenberg’s Self-esteem Scale (RSES), respectively. Patients with psoriasis (12.77±4.43) reported a higher mean impairment in DLQI than patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (11.10±6.53, P=0.028), in the univariate comparisons. Patients with psoriasis presented statistically significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression than both patients with hidradenitis suppurativa and healthy controls, while patients with hidradenitis suppurativa also had higher anxiety and depression compared with healthy controls. Patients with psoriasis (46.31±6.36) reported statistically significantly higher loneliness than both patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (43.18±7.40) and controls (40.42±4.41), while the patients with hidradenitis suppurativa also presented higher loneliness in comparison with controls. Lower levels of self-esteem were found in patients with psoriasis (15.08±3.11) compared with both patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (18.89±1.69) and controls (20.25±2.60), while patients with hidradenitis suppurativa also had lower self-esteem than controls. Significant levels of depression, anxiety, and impaired quality of life were strongly associated with disease severity. When patients with mild disease were compared, those with psoriasis presented with both higher levers of loneliness and lower scores for quality of life. Although both psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa are associated with impaired quality of life and psychological aspects, significantly worse scores were recorded in patients with psoriasis

Combination of 30% salicylic acid peels and mechanical comedo extraction for the treatment of Favre-Racouchot syndrome

No abstract available</p

Comparative Study of Quality of Life and Psychological Aspects in Patients with Psoriasis and Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa are two common dermatological diseases that affect physical, social, and psychological aspects of the patients’ lives. The aim of this study was to compare quality of life, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and loneliness in patients with psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa. One hundred and eight patients with psoriasis, 113 patients with hidradenitis suppurativa and 116 healthy controls were included in the study. The quality of life, depression, anxiety, and loneliness of the patients as well as their self-esteem were assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the UCLA loneliness Scale (UCLA-Version 3) and the Rosenberg’s Self-esteem Scale (RSES), respectively. Patients with psoriasis (12.77±4.43) reported a higher mean impairment in DLQI than patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (11.10±6.53, P=0.028), in the univariate comparisons. Patients with psoriasis presented statistically significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression than both patients with hidradenitis suppurativa and healthy controls, while patients with hidradenitis suppurativa also had higher anxiety and depression compared with healthy controls. Patients with psoriasis (46.31±6.36) reported statistically significantly higher loneliness than both patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (43.18±7.40) and controls (40.42±4.41), while the patients with hidradenitis suppurativa also presented higher loneliness in comparison with controls. Lower levels of self-esteem were found in patients with psoriasis (15.08±3.11) compared with both patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (18.89±1.69) and controls (20.25±2.60), while patients with hidradenitis suppurativa also had lower self-esteem than controls. Significant levels of depression, anxiety, and impaired quality of life were strongly associated with disease severity. When patients with mild disease were compared, those with psoriasis presented with both higher levers of loneliness and lower scores for quality of life. Although both psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa are associated with impaired quality of life and psychological aspects, significantly worse scores were recorded in patients with psoriasis

Bevacizumab-associated sudden onset of multiple monomorphic comedones on the scalp successfully treated with 30% salicylic acid peels.

Bevacizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial factor (VEGF) that targets tumor cell angiogenesis and proliferation. Although it is usually well tolerated, many side-effects have been reported. These include hypertension, bleeding, and thromboembolic events among others. Drug-associated cutaneous adverse effects are less common and include itching, exfoliative dermatitis, and acneiform eruptions. A man with bevacizumab-associated monomorphic skin eruption successfully was treated with 30% salicylic acid peels. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first report of open comedones with no further inflammatory acne lesions that developed in a patient treated with bevacizumab. Complete remission of the rash was achieved after performing 30% salicylic peels, and the patient continued the chemotherapy as planned with no need of either dose reduction or discontinuation of bevacizumab. </p

Recent advances in understanding Propionibacterium acnes (Cutibacterium acnes) in acne [version 1; referees: 2 approved]

The skin commensal Propionibacterium acnes, recently renamed Cutibacterium acnes, along with the other major pathophysiological factors of increased seborrhea, hyperkeratinization of the pilosebaceous unit, and inflammation, has long been implicated in the pathogenesis of acne. Recent advances have contributed to our understanding of the role of P. acnes in acne. Although there are no quantitative differences in P. acnes of the skin of patients with acne compared with controls, the P. acnes phylogenic groups display distinct genetic and phenotypic characteristics, P. acnes biofilms are more frequent in acne, and different phylotypes may induce distinct immune responses in acne. P. acnes plays a further important role in the homeostasis of the skin’s microbiome, interacting with other cutaneous commensal or pathogenic microorganisms such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Pseudomonas species. In the era of increasing antimicrobial resistance, the selection of acne treatment targeting P. acnes and the prevention of antibiotic resistance play a key role in improving outcomes in acne patients and public health

Secukinumab shows significant efficacy in two patients with difficult-to-treat areas of psoriasis: a Greek experience

Psoriasis is one of the most frequently occurring chronic inflammatory skin diseases. There are some specialized regions of the body that are considered difficult to treat. Secukinumab is a human monoclonal immunoglobulin G antibody that blocks the interleukin 17A ligand and has been shown to be highly efficacious in treating moderate-to-severe psoriasis. We studied two Greek patients, one with scalp psoriasis and the other with palmoplantar psoriasis, both resistant to treatment. Patients were treated with secukinumab and efficacy and safety were recorded. The patient with severe, refractory palmoplantar psoriasis achieved complete clearance at the end of the 4-week treatment period with secukinumab. The patient with moderate to severe, chronic scalp psoriasis was successfully treated with secukinumab, obtaining complete clearance of symptoms and remission of disease after approximately 16 weeks. In both cases clinical response was maintained through week 52. Secukinumab has been shown to be highly efficacious in the treatment of psoriasis of specific anatomical sites with an acceptable safety profile

Secukinumab shows significant efficacy in two patients with difficult-to-treat areas of psoriasis: a Greek experience

Psoriasis is one of the most frequently occurring chronic inflammatory skin diseases. There are some specialized regions of the body that are considered difficult to treat. Secukinumab is a human monoclonal immunoglobulin G antibody that blocks the interleukin 17A ligand and has been shown to be highly efficacious in treating moderate-to-severe psoriasis. We studied two Greek patients, one with scalp psoriasis and the other with palmoplantar psoriasis, both resistant to treatment. Patients were treated with secukinumab and efficacy and safety were recorded. The patient with severe, refractory palmoplantar psoriasis achieved complete clearance at the end of the 4-week treatment period with secukinumab. The patient with moderate to severe, chronic scalp psoriasis was successfully treated with secukinumab, obtaining complete clearance of symptoms and remission of disease after approximately 16 weeks. In both cases clinical response was maintained through week 52. Secukinumab has been shown to be highly efficacious in the treatment of psoriasis of specific anatomical sites with an acceptable safety profile